One of the biggest challenges to our Christian faith, and one that is often used to refute even the existence of God, is the question of evil. For centuries people have argued that a loving and all-powerful God cannot exist in a world where atrocities are committed and the innocent suffer.
Sacred Scripture is not silent on this difficult question. St. Paul, in the New Testament, refers to it as the “mystery of iniquity” or the “mystery of lawlessness” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:7). The reality of evil at work in the world is, on some level, a mystery and one that we cannot fully comprehend in this life.
Yet, at the same time, there are some definitive answers that can help us understand many of the tragic events we witness in life. One prime example can be found in the tremendous value God places on human freedom. God wants us to be completely free in our decision to love Him and follow Jesus Christ. He will not force or coerce us to follow the commandments or manipulate us into loving our neighbor.
Along with that gift of freedom, however, comes the awful risk of its abuse. We are perfectly free to love God and those around us, or to reject God and His offer of love and salvation. We can love our neighbor, or we can choose hatred and sin.
There is a tragedy that happened in Yemen in March 2016, however, that has the potential to open our hearts to the truth about God even in the midst of the mystery of human suffering and in the face of evil. But first, it is helpful to understand some of the more recent history of Yemen.
Yemen is located in the southern region of the Middle East and has been beset by civil strife and unrest since 2011. More than 50,000 children died of starvation in Yemen in 2017, and the United Nations has stated that Yemen is the country with the most need of humanitarian aid on the planet, with 85% of the citizens in need. Caritas Internationalis, other international aid organizations and many different religious groups have done tremendous work trying to help the people of Yemen, but the needs there are still great.
One of those groups is the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by St. Theresa of Calcutta. They operated a hospital in Yemen for elderly and disabled persons. They were warned many times that their ministry was in a dangerous and volatile place, but they refused to leave the sick and suffering persons under their care. Fr. Tom, an Indian priest who celebrated daily Mass for them, would often say, “Let us be ready for martyrdom.”
It was no surprise, then, on March 4, 2016, that armed fundamental extremists breached the compound and killed several of the security personnel and other workers. They systematically searched for and killed four of the sisters, as well. But they knew there were five Missionaries of Charity in that place. They searched for the last one, entering the walk-in refrigeration unit she was in several times, but failed to find her. She alone survived to tell the story of what happened on that horrible morning.
In the fax report that was sent some 12 hours after the attack, a detailed explanation of what took place is given. The surviving sister noted how the Missionaries of Charity were attentive to their promises for prayer and service on the morning of the attack, making it predictable where they would be. But instead of lamenting that fact, the sister goes on to express a hauntingly beautiful truth that focuses, instead, on Jesus Christ. She said:
“Because of their faithfulness, they were in the right place at the right time and were ready when the Bridegroom came.”
(emphasis hers)
When the Bridegroom came…
She was, of course, making a direct reference to the Parable that we listen to in the Gospel this morning. Jesus tells the story of the ten virgins who are waiting in vigil for the bridegroom’s return. Five of them were foolish and did not have enough oil reserved as they waited. They needed to leave their vigil and purchase more. Jesus relates:
While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
—Matthew 25:10
The lamps represent the vitality of our faith, something that cannot be transferred to another person but represents a gift that has to be sought, received, embraced and lived. We either respond to God’s invitation and express our faith in works of charity, or we do not. The oil for those lamps, therefore, represents the good works our faith inspires. Our lamps of faith must always be burning and the oil of good works must continue to attend us in lives of fidelity throughout this earthly pilgrimage.
The message of the Gospel this weekend is challenging but beautiful, as it helps us to see that the heart of the Christian faith lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom. There are two basic points that we can reflect on this weekend.
Firstly, we recall that our Bridegroom weds Himself to us in the midst of the “mystery of iniquity,” and in the moment of the Cross. That hatred which caused the Son of God to be crucified is transformed into the act of greatest love and selflessness, God pouring out his life for us in Christ. That is why we call that day “Good Friday.” But the night before He suffers and dies, Jesus Christ, in a certain sense, professes “vows” to His Bride, the Church. What are vows? A bridegroom pronounces vows to his spouse when he promises her that he will give himself—body and soul—to her alone; he promises that their love will be fruitful, open to new life; and that he will remain faithful to her until death. He gives to the Church, His Bride, His own body and blood in the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
Secondly, we as the Bride of Christ are called to fidelity. We are called to have the light of faith in every aspect of our lives, and to be inspired by that faith to perform good works and love God and those around us. We constantly keep those lamps burning with the sacraments, the teachings of our faith, and the countless ways that God inspires us to love. We seek to grow in virtue and commit ourselves to being faithful disciples, especially when we experience the cross and times are challenging.
Above all, we pray and strive this week for vigilance, to be always ready and watching for Jesus Christ in our daily lives. We pray that we may be ready, “when the bridegroom comes.”
